DHET ASSESSES LANGUAGE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AT WSU

For the advancement of indigenous and African languages, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) conducted a monitoring visit at WSU’s Mthatha Campus on, 4 February 2025, to assess the implementation of the institution's Language Policy.

This visit forms part of DHET’s broader initiative to ensure that universities nationwide effectively integrate language policies following national directives.

Presenting where WSU is in terms of the policy, WSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof Margaret Linington, said: “WSU has revised its Language Policy and Implementation Plan in line with the DHET’s 2020 Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions and the policy will be tabled at the next senate meeting.”

Linington added that IsiXhosa and Sesotho are to be used alongside English in a phase-in approach and this will be in partnership with the University of the Free State (UFS) language unit to collaborate on SeSotho.

“To promote multilingualism, arts, and culture in the institution, WSU hosted its first Mother-Language Day on 20 February 2024, where external stakeholders like the Eastern Cape Department of Education. This was celebrated through the launch of four literary works by WSU academics and this increased interest by students to work with academics in writing in African Languages,” said Linington.

While highlighting the work already done by the institution, Linington added that the seven faculties established Faculty Transformation and Languages Committees (FLTCs) with the mandate to implement the policy in collaboration with the Directorate of Teaching and Learning.

“To advance the project, eight postgraduate language students were contracted to deliver translation services and rigorous training on translation and terminology development was done,” said Linington.

She added that the DHET’s project on language policy implementation assisted WSU to make its mark on multilingualism within the institution.

“The implementation process started smoothly until it hit a hurdle because of structural challenges. But the institution is in the process of ensuring that the project is led accordingly by a person responsible for the project,” concluded Linington.

In conclusion, DHET gave feedback on the work WSU has already done in relation to the policy. They highlighted that there are aspects that WSU has done exceedingly well, while there are others that still need much work.

The DHET delegates also concluded with a walkabout to see the use of multilingualism in signages on campus and also visited the library at Zamukulungisa site.

By Anita Roji